By Elyjah Rosales

PHOTO: TechViral News

Following President Rodrigo Duterte’s vaccine ‘shop’ challenge, Vice President Leni Robredo’s spokesman on Tuesday did not mince his words in retorting.

Lawyer Ibarra Gutierez, in an interview with Bombo Radyo Iloilo, told that it is not the VP’s ‘job’ to purchase such but the government’s.

“Unang-una, hindi naman niya trabaho iyan. Trabaho talaga iyan ng gobyerno,” Gutierez stated.

He also added that the processes that surround it are not to be compared with going to the market.

“At hindi naman maganda na parang—ano iyan, parang palengke, ‘di ba,” furthered the spokesman.

“So hindi iyan usapin ng basta makakabili ka, parang bumili ka ng gamot sa botika, ‘di ba. Mahaba at masalimuot na proseso ito,” Gutierez carried on.

These came after Duterte threw tantrums regarding Robredo’s questioning on the skipped procurement and distribution procedures by the Sinovac vaccine.

Apart from saying that he would give the VP a ‘basket’ to ‘shop’ for vaccines, the president — who has been very vocal against his critics — also urged the opposition to ‘join the lady’ in getting the ‘honor’ of vaccines they would get if succeeded.

The Philippines, despite the ‘excellent’ response, remains intact with the slowest vaccination rollout title and the highest number of active cases among Southeast Asia.

“Nakakalungkot lang kasi kapag nakita mo iyong ibang bansa, tuloy-tuloy na ang vaccine rollout, tayo medyo mabagal,” the spokesman ended.


RELATED ARTICLE: Manila Bulletin